Pat Cummins, David McBride, AUKUS and OpenAI.
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Saturday Nov 25
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This week we took you on a guided tour of Gaza's decimated hospitals, considered Peter Dutton's rhetoric on immigration, and reviewed News Corp's less-than-prescient predictions about Pat Cummins.

Elsewhere we delved into the unanswered questions about AUKUS, dug deep into whistleblower David McBride's legal situation, and considered the ethics of journalists signing petitions.

Plus who is the Australian OpenAI board member who voted out Sam Altman?

Thanks for supporting independent media. Hope you’re having a great weekend.
Gina Rushton Gina Rushton,
Editor
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The great silencing: Journalists killed for telling the world the true story of Gaza
GUY RUNDLE

More and more journalists are being killed trying to cover Israel's destruction of Gaza — and with them, any possibility of the truth.

Mourners at the funeral of Palestinian journalist Mohammed Abu Hattab (Image: Reuters/Mohammed Salem)
 
Coalition MP claiming thousands in weekly expenses from secretive right-wing firm
CAM WILSON

Crikey has documents showing Alex Antic claimed $27K from Whitestone Strategic, a consultancy firm closely tied to the No campaign.

Senator Alex Antic; Whitestone Strategic invoices (Image: Supplied/Senator Alex Antic)
 
A day of defamation, Lachlan meets Volodymyr, and the ABC ‘slays’ on TikTok
DAANYAL SAEED

Your correspondent hits Phillip St for a day of defamation trials as Bruce Lehrmann and Ben Roberts-Smith return to court.

Bruce Lehrmann arrives at the Federal Court of Australia (Image: AAP/Bianca De Marchi)
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‘Jewel in the crown’: Bidding war likely for Defence $112m ad contract renewal
ANTON NILSSON

In a time of geopolitical struggle, the ADF has a recruitment problem. But fear not: a massive new contract for military job ads is up for grabs.

Recruits at the Australian Defence Force Academy (Image: Xinhua/Sipa USA/Chu Chen/Xinhua)
 
‘They are not houses of violence’: A guided tour of Gaza’s ruined hospitals
RACHEL COGHLAN

Hospitals are meant to be refuges, yet for those affected by Israel’s siege of Gaza, they have become sites of devastation.

Health personnel prepare premature babies to be transferred to Egypt after they were evacuated from Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital (Image: AAP/EPA/Haitham Imad)
 
We should be afraid, but not for the reason the major parties tell us
MAEVE MCGREGOR

The bipartisan hysteria unleashed in response to a landmark High Court ruling spells the death of a free society.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
 
All the times the Murdoch press said the World Cup-winning Aussies were too woke
DAANYAL SAEED

'Go woke. Go win the whole bloody lot.' Now it's time to watch News Corp's commentators choke on humble pie.

Pat Cummins and the Australian Men's Cricket World Cup team (Image: Zennie/Private Media)
 
‘Important conversations’: Inside the government’s secret meeting with Tinder, Grindr and Hinge
ANTON NILSSON and CAM WILSON

The federal government brought together the online dating industry this week to get them to address abuse and harassment on their platforms.

Dating app logos (Image: Adobe/Private Media)
 
Who is Helen Toner? Meet the 30-something Australian OpenAI board member who voted out Sam Altman
CAM WILSON

'She knew quite early she was headed for the big leagues,' said one person who knew her from United Nations Youth Australia.

OpenAI board member Helen Toner (Image: Linkedin/OpenAI)
 
Cost, timing and US approval: The most crucial AUKUS ‘known unknowns’
ANTON NILSSON

How much will AUKUS cost, when will Australia get the subs, and how many will it get? Much is unknown about the submarine deal — here are some of the most crucial unanswered questions.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Point Loma naval base in San Diego (Image: AAP/Leon Neal)
 
Craig Thomson’s real error was not taking his ill-gotten COVID money on behalf of Qantas
CHARLIE LEWIS

When former MP and disgrace-magnet Craig Thomson pleaded guilty to dishonestly receiving COVID-era government grants, he could be forgiven for wondering when similar punishment would follow for far larger rorters.

Former Labor MP Craig Thomson (Image: AAP/Darren Pateman)
 
Business Council members continue to dodge tax while calling for tax reform
BERNARD KEANE

If the Business Council of Australia had its way, its members would have paid $10 billion less tax in 2021-22 — and you would have picked up the tab. Feel 'estranged' yet?

(Image: Sipa USA/Vuk Valcic)
 
It’s a travesty McBride had to plead guilty, but the public want whistleblower reform
KIERAN PENDER

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus pledged to establish a whistleblower protection authority in 2019. He needs to get a move on.

David McBride leaves the ACT Supreme Court on Friday (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
 
Gawenda’s call for censorship of activists is alarming, incoherent and betrays journalism
BERNARD KEANE

Esteemed veteran journalist Michael Gawenda doesn't like journalists signing open letters. Well, open letters critical of Israel.

Pro-Palestine activists in Melbourne, November 19 (Image: AAP/James Ross)